Producer/director Quint Davis announced the 2009 roster Tuesday at the North Rampart Street offices of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation, the nonprofit that owns Jazz Fest and spends its profits on cultural initiatives and free events throughout the year.

The festival has never unveiled its full lineup in December. The early rollout is intended in part as a hedge against a grim economic forecast that may cut into leisure travel next spring.

Ticket prices are unchanged from 2008: $40 per day in advance, $50 at the gate. Also, a new weekend package prices tickets at $35 a day. Tickets for children age 2 to 11 are $5.

Compared to the $125 cost of a single floor ticket to Britney Spears' March 3 concert at the New Orleans Arena, Davis noted that a three-ticket package for Jazz Fest's entire first weekend is $105.

"And you can see Dave Matthews, James Taylor, Joe Cocker, Wynton Marsalis, Earth, Wind & Fire and many more," he said. "This is the greatest entertainment value for the money that there is."

Wilco

In conjunction with festival co-producer AEG Live, Davis' Festival Productions Inc.-New Orleans started booking acts this summer. They scrambled in the past week to confirm as many as possible before Tuesday's announcement.

"It was like trying to build a house," Davis said. "You look at it with a week to go and think, 'There's no way this will be finished.'"

The schedule is also laden with veteran acts: Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Joe Cocker, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Los Lobos, Robert Cray, Hugh Masekela, John Mayall, Maze, Johnny Winter, Pete Seeger -- who plans to celebrate his 90th birthday at Jazz Fest -- Toots & the Maytals, the Del McCoury Band and the hundreds of Louisiana acts that are the festival's foundation.

In a sneak peak at the day-by-day schedule, Davis said the closing day's Acura Stage lineup boasts Allen Toussaint, Aretha Franklin and the Neville Brothers, in that order.

Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis closes out the festival's opening day by reprising his "Congo Square" composition with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Ghana-born percussionist Yacub Addy. They premiered the piece during the 2006 French Quarter Festival in Armstrong Park, site of the original Congo Square.

The Dave Matthews Band, which last appeared in 2006, is scheduled for the first Sunday.

Several multi-artist tributes acknowledge the legacies of departed local legends. Irma Thomas joins Mavis Staples and Pamela Landrum in a salute to Mahalia Jackson.

The late jazz banjoist and raconteur Danny Barker is the subject of a tribute by trumpeter Leroy Jones and a reunion of the Fairview Baptist Brass Band, which Barker developed into a farm team for local brass bands.

The Meter Men features three of the four original Meters: Guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Zigaboo Modeliste. They first performed as a trio during an August trip to the Democratic National Convention in Colorado.

Sugarland is this year's contemporary country headliner. The band employs a New Orleans rhythm section consisting of bassist Annie Clements -- daughter of local guitarist Cranston Clements -- and drummer Travis McNabb. McNabb will perform with Sugarland the second weekend and with his "regular" band, Better Than Ezra, the first weekend.

Perhaps taking a cue from competing festivals, Jazz Fest has bolstered its roster of upstart rock bands. In addition to Kings of Leon, the list includes Wilco -- the band's bassist, John Stirratt, grew up in Mandeville -- Spoon, Ben Harper and the Drive By Truckers with guest keyboardist Booker T. Jones.

In another sign of the torch being passed, Bob Dylan's son, Jakob Dylan, is slated to perform a solo acoustic set.

In years past, Jazz Fest has featured the music and culture of countries from Africa and the African diaspora. Several international acts will return, including the Crocodile Gumboot Dancers of South Africa.

For 2009, Jazz Fest has augmented its selection of premium packages. The Big Chief VIP Experience includes access to raised, covered viewing areas at the main stages and other amenities. The cost is $850 or $1000 with daily reserved parking for the first weekend, $900 or $1100 with parking for the second.

The Grand Marshal VIP pass offers access to reserved viewing areas in front of several stages, at a cost of $550 or $700 with parking for the first weekend, $600 or $800 with parking for the second.

A new premium package, the Krewe of Jazz Fest, provides seating at the main Acura Stage only. Krewe of Jazz Fest packages are $350 or $500 with parking for the first weekend, $400 or $600 with parking for the second.

Disposable income may be in short supply for many people next spring. As the national economic outlook grew ever gloomier throughout the fall, Davis and his team realized they would need additional time to market Jazz Fest.

"As the days and weeks went by, it became more important to have the greatest momentum we could so people can get excited and make plans," Davis said. A national promotional campaign kicks off after Jan. 1.

With the early announcement, they also wanted to preempt other festivals that compete for entertainment dollars. Davis is also quick to distance Jazz Fest from the competition.

"No other festival has an imperative to present 85 percent local music," Davis said. "Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Coachella -- they're not this. This is different.

"We like to think that if you're going to do one thing, you're going to do Jazz Fest, rain, shine, flood or pestilence. Now we'll put that to the test."

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, at the New Orleans Arena box office and at the Louisiana Superdome box office (gate A, ground level). Ticket prices do not include service charges.